Clips Round-up for 6/27/12

Submitted by mrober@publicam... on Wed, 06/27/2012 - 13:10

Big story in the NYT today: "Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman of New York has begun investigating contributions to tax-exempt groups that are heavily involved in political campaigns, focusing on a case involving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has been one of the largest outside groups seeking to influence recent elections but is not required to disclose its donors." A "wide-ranging subpoena" has been issued.

Yesterday, Public Campaign and Alliance for a Just Society put out an analysis of the NFIB and whether it really represents small business. "The NFIB’s reliance on big money donations to fight their legal battle highlights what we’re seeing in elections generally—a political and policy system increasingly driven by wealthy special interests."

And great LA Times story on conservatives being for disclosure before they were against it: "Today, with those fundraising restrictions largely removed, many conservatives have changed their tune. They now say disclosure could be an enemy of free speech."

USA Today: Campaign-finance future haunted by Montana's past Editorial: "Money spent anonymously to influence elections is almost by definition corrupting. If the public cannot make the connection between lawmakers' actions and the monied interests backing them, the temptation for almost extortion-like pressure is sure to follow. That prospect is very troubling. The future, it seems, might not be so far removed from Montana's past." Brad Smith has the opposing view.

CNN: Top super PAC donors "The 9 largest super PAC donors have collectively donated over $60 million to various political causes. Who are these guys?"

Roll Call: Outsider privy to ethics case "Just days before the House Ethics Committee was slated to hold a rare public trial of Rep. Maxine Waters, the committee’s then-ranking member, Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.), shared an email about the status of the case with a staffer in his personal office who did not serve on the committee."

NYT: Democrats feel pressure from gun lobby on contempt vote "The National Rifle Association has joined a Republican push to make Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. the first sitting cabinet member to be held in contempt of Congress, turning a once obscure fight over a gun-smuggling investigation into a proxy war over gun control."